Looking for a delightful treat to brighten up your Saturday? Try your hand at making Nigella’s delicious hot cross buns! These spiced buns are perfect for sharing with family and friends, or enjoying all to yourself with a cup of tea. Below, we break down the recipe into simple steps and ingredients to make your baking experience enjoyable and successful.
Traditional Hot Cross Buns
These soft, sweet buns are not just a favorite during the Easter season; they’re great for any time of the year. The combination of warm spices and dried fruit makes them irresistible!
Ingredients
Gather the following ingredients to make approximately 12 delicious hot cross buns:
- 500g strong white flour
- 75g caster sugar
- 10g salt
- 10g fast-action yeast
- 2 tsp mixed spice powder
- 40g unsalted butter
- 300ml milk
- 1 large egg
- 150g mixed dried fruit (like currants, raisins, and sultanas)
- For the cross: 75g plain flour and water
- For the glaze: 75g apricot jam
Instructions
Follow these steps to create your hot cross buns:
- In a large bowl, mix the flour, sugar, salt, yeast, and mixed spice powder together.
- Heat the milk slightly and add the butter until melted. Allow it to cool a bit, then whisk in the egg.
- Make a well in the flour mixture and pour in the milk mixture. Combine until it forms a soft dough.
- Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Incorporate the mixed dried fruit until evenly distributed.
- Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a cloth, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until doubled in size.
- Preheat your oven to 220°C (428°F). After the dough has risen, punch it down and divide it into 12 equal pieces. Shape each piece into a bun.
- Place the buns on a baking tray lined with parchment paper, allowing space for them to rise again for about 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, mix together the plain flour and water to form a thick paste for the cross. Transfer it to a piping bag and pipe a cross on each bun.
- Bake in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes, or until golden brown.
- For the glaze, heat the apricot jam in a small saucepan until melted, then brush it over the warm buns.
Once your hot cross buns are baked and glazed, allow them to cool slightly before enjoying them fresh out of the oven. These buns are best served warm, but they can also be toasted the next day. Happy baking!